Meet Sonya Reyes | Aesthetics Nurse Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sonya Reyes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sonya, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When we make daily choices we are always taking risks. Risks are just measured by how great the loss or optimal outcome may be. I used to be very afraid of risk taking and always followed the course of what I thought I should be doing in life. I avoided taking big risks that could lead to uncertain outcomes. I constantly was airing on the side of caution and limited my ability for growth. I finally accepted that taking risks can be a catalyst for growth and new opportunities. Taking the risk to step out of my comfort zone to pursue a career in aesthetics as well as open my own business has been something that has allowed me to gain valuable learning experiences as well as a better work/life balance. Learning to embrace risk has allowed me to grow personally as well as foster the growth of my career.

I can’t imagine what my life would have been today if I wouldn’t have decided to take the leap to follow my dreams! I am so grateful to those who encouraged me to trust in myself and who have supported my business along the way. It is totally normal to be uncomfortable with change and taking risks, but it is so important to embrace those feelings.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I began nursing school back in 2016, I would have NEVER guessed that I would have sought out the opportunity to open my own business. I worked in an intensive care unit for 4 years, and I absolutely loved it! I was comfortable in my skills and I was very proud of myself in my ability to work in high stress environments. I had just began working on masters degree in 2019 when everyones world was flipped upside down by COVID. I experienced a lot of grief and sadness that took a huge emotional toll on me. I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse practitioner, but I just assumed I would have followed the most obvious path of working in primary care. During that time, I was encouraged by another nurse practitioner to look into the world of aesthetics. I did some research and looked into some training. The rest is history! Once I decided that was what I wanted to do once I graduated with my masters and became a Family Nurse Practitioner I just never looked back!

I opened Lisse Aesthetics in April of 2022. I am so thankful for all of my patients and friends who have allowed for my business to grow. I take education very seriously and have continued to strive to provide clients with the best practices in medical aesthetics. I love to offer unique and personalized aesthetics treatments that are personalized individual needs and aesthetic goals. I’m so passionate about making people feel beautiful, both inside and out. I think the best piece of advice that I have gotten is to just be authentically you. I am proud of myself for building an environment where my patients feel comfortable to come to me with concerns that are affecting their confidence. It can be extremely vulnerable to seek out aesthetic services, so their trust has been so encouraging. I am proud of the relationships that I have formed with my patients and the trust that they put in me is what pushes me every day to be better practitioner.

I don’t think anyone can fully be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster of opening your own business. There were so many bumps in the road. I have had many times where I just let my self-doubt consume me into believing I should walk away, but the support of my mentors really helped me push through. There are still daily challenges that come with owning a business, but I’ve realized that it is so much more manageable to take things day by day. I manage everything on my own – social media, injecting, marketing, patient care, client communications, and more. It can be very overwhelming at times, but it is so important to take time for yourself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well if you know me then you know I LOVE sushi! It is always on my itinerary for when friends come into town! I absolutely love Oishii off of Wycliff. I used to go there regularly after working at Parkland and it has just become my favorite. I also love to take people to anywhere that has a rooftop bar – I’m a sucker for a good view and Dallas has tons of them! My favorite fine-dining restaurant is hands down Town Hearth, but Nick and Sam’s is always fun for any kind of celebrations! There are endless cocktail bars, but some of my favorites to grab a drink at are Parliament, Midnight Rambler, and Bowen House. If you go to Bowen House and happen to be able to eat their dinner, you have to get the fried brie for an appetizer!! SO GOOD!

Dallas is known for its social scenes, but you can’t miss out on the trails or the Dallas Arboretum. Katy Trail is always so fun to walk along with friends (except when Dallas decides to be above 100 F for weeks upon weeks). There is also so many extremely cool museums to check out as well! I also think that Trinity Groves and Bishop Arts are just so absolute gems of areas and you can never go wrong with going to explore the food and shops in those areas as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I really wouldn’t be where I am at with my business and career if it wasn’t for my family and friends. I struggled a lot with confidence in myself and my abilities to be successful in aesthetics and I cannot thank them enough for pushing me to my best. There have been good days and there have been bad days, but in the end their support has kept me sane on the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.

I have to also recognize the team at NeoWell for providing a flourishing learning environment for aspiring aesthetic injectors. They have been the best support team and the owner Deanna has been my saving grace through the extreme lows of owning a business! It has been an absolute pleasure to meet every new member and help provide support for people who are trying to get into aesthetics. I was able to meet my mentors there and that has been the most beneficial part of it all.

Website: https://www.lisseaesthetics.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syringesbysonya

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/syringesbysonya

Image Credits
LaQuan Williams